A couple of months ago I wrote here about the “The Seven Deadly Bets.” I know it’s sometimes hard to find the virtues in betting horses, but here are certain behaviors and beliefs that could be termed virtuous  (with the corresponding deadly bets in parenthesis).

Diligence (sloth) – I do the homework and come up with a possible winning horse. If I lose, then at least I have an idea why I lost. When at a large simulcasting facility this virtue usually goes out the window.

Temperance (gluttony)  – There are bets I don’t make. I hold my need for action in check.  Don’t succumb to peer pressure – just say no! This virtue keeps from the potential handicapping despair that lurks under the wire after every race.

Charity (greed) – Sometimes I feel like my pick can’t lose and I will generously share it with friends, spouse or whoever is standing next to me. Occasionally my sure thing happens to lose the race, usually at even money or less, but then I remind myself that I really can’t win every race and try not to blame  the horse, the jockey or take it out on the nearest trash bin.

Chastity (lust) – Horses are wonderfully beautiful and alluring animals. That doesn’t mean I bet half a paycheck on one. Everything in moderation.

Patience (wrath) – When my horse has a tough trip or a bad beat, I remind myself of the possible juicy price on my horse the next time. Practicing this virtue means keeping a horses to watch list.

Kindness (envy) ­­­– When I show real cheer and enthusiasm for a friend’s winning bet. Even after said friend berates me for not taking their advice.

Humility –  Similar to the virtue of kindness at the track, humility is trying to scale back the times I say “I gave you the Tri!” when I’m holding a winning ticket.

There isn’t any live racing in New York City right now and the local OTB shop was shuttered at the end of July. Recently I paid my eight bucks at the Lincoln Tunnel to make it to the Big M for some simulcast action. Betting on horses, especially at a simulcast center with that many races going off at once is not unlike throwing coins in a fountain and hoping for luck. There are very few virtues in betting like this: never fully prepared for any one race, irrational bets are made on certain longstanding beliefs. Whether it’s a puzzling Penn 5K MCL or a wide-open Grade I, I have come to believe in certain fall back positions.

The Big M

When in doubt, I will go with the grey or roan horses on the turf, especially if it is a filly or mare contest. Call it simpleton-breeding analysis 101. I don’t have any hard evidence to support this angle but you’d be surprised how often they win turf races. On another note, now that the Meadowlands live flat meet has been canceled I will miss the annual Grey Ghost Handicap held at on the Friday night before Halloween – only gray or roan horses invited to enter.

Numerological betting ­is comparable to playing a lottery ticket, but with calculated risk. Pick the combination like the # 6 over the #2 and #4. Or the # 5 with the #1 and #4. It can be any combo, but most bettors have a FAVORITE combo that adds up or has another significance such as a birthday or anniversary, etc. The calculated risk comes from watching the board when betting this angle. It is often, but not always, wise (and safer) to add the favorite underneath in the exotics. I might add that harness players, I’ve noticed, are more likely to use this position. The kicker is when a $700 exacta comes in on your favorite combo at 30/1 over 20/1 and you didn’t play it because the odds were too high.

The last example of a 30/1 over a 20/1 may seldom happen, but when it does the IRS wants your name, SS# and 25% withheld if your winnings are over $5,000 or if it is more than 300 times the original wager ($600 for a 2 dollar bet). Many of us repeat $2 bets 2 or 3 times to avoid the possible with holdings. Usually this happens right before a race and my fellow fans waiting in line start to scream “hurry it up” or some other politeness. I don’t think you should bother with multiple tickets for tax purposes, it rarely happens anyway and than there is always someone who will cash it for a small fee…

When in doubt play the dime super. A late addition to the current wagering menu, the dime super is a time consumer at the window. Unless you’re playing a numerology combination, be prepared to spend minutes hunched over a program at the machine going through 360 permutations of a 10-cent bet. Playing dime supers probably won’t make you rich but for 10-cents a pop you get some bang all of those combinations.

There are virtues in all of these opinions, most notably because they are my own. There will always be others who are winning more than I am and those who have met larger defeat on the betting field. No matter what the position I usually fall somewhere in the middle. My final bit of impractical knowledge to impart on comes from Hamlet “to thine own self be true.” When to comes make your picks, who else is better qualified?

In this past Friday’s New York Times Sports section there was a touching story about trainer/owner Tim Snyder and his horse, Lisa’s Booby Trap, stepping up in a stakes race at Saratoga after 3 wins at Finger Lakes. The story is rather amazing. Tim Snyder has been around horses almost all his life having been born in the first aid room at Scarborough Downs in Maine. Doesn’t seem to have had too much success with the horses but he did meet his wife at the track. His wife, Lisa, unfortunately died of ovarian cancer. Sometime after she died, a friend told him about a horse. A filly with a bad shoulder, blind in one eye, and a club foot. Doesn’t sound like a good tip to me. But, Tim saw some potential, I guess, and bought her for $2,000 upfront with $2,500 to be paid if she won a race. He named the horse Lisa’s Booby Trap after his wife and a favorite strip club. On her death bed, Lisa had told him she wanted to come back as a horse. Well, what do you know. After finding some special shoes, Lisa is now 4 for 4. She convincingly beat her rivals in the Loudonville  at Saratoga on Friday. The crowd at Saratoga roared with delight just as they have in the past for great fillies like Rachael Alexandra. There was Tim Snyder in the winner’s circle. Don’t tell anyone, but I had a tear or two well up in my eyes as I watched the race on a video screen.

On Saturday, Zenyatta, the much heralded undefeated 6-year-old mare from California ran at Del Mar. It was the 18th start of her career and her 18th win.  Another squeaker. She always runs from the back of the pack and just gets up to stick her neck out in front at the wire. She’s owned by Jerry and Ann Moss and trained by John Shireffs. They don’t need the money, they don’t need the fame, but they always seem very excited by their horse and the fan response to her.

What a tale of two horses. Equally inspiring. This year is probably Zenyatta’s last. Lisa’s Booby Trap is only 3. Who knows how many more wins she has in her. Tim says he’s been offered $500,000 for her. She’s not for sale. Win or lose she will always have a home with him.

On a long ago November afternoon when Easy Goer didn’t catch Sunday Silence in the BC Classic I became hooked on horse racing. Following is a list of Seven Deadly bets I have made over the past years.

The Greed Bet – I bet way too much to win on the 8/5 “can’t lose” favorite. They do give money away at the track, don’t they?

The Gluttony Bet – These type of bets will often come from a feeling of desperation and a need to pick a winner: that is to say boxing 7 horses in the Kentucky Derby field of 20.

The Sloth Bet – Those guys in the Daily Racing Form can’t be wrong!

The Envy Bet – This wager usually comes from my resentment toward a friend or family member whose betting advice I did not take in a previous race. “I told you I liked the #4!” My envy wager is typically a long shot in an attempt to inflate my handicapping self-esteem that much more when my horse comes in.

The Pride Bet – Similar to the Greed Bet, this wager involves copious notes and numbers with the certain belief that my pick cannot lose and my handicapping skills are superior to those guys in the Daily Racing Form .

The Anger Bet – Usually directed at myself, the angry bet comes not from picking the wrong horse, but from coming up with a winner yet not having made the right bet, i.e. “I didn’t have it over the 7!” or “Why didn’t I just bet it to win!”

The Lust Bet – This is probably the most understandable of the deadly bets.  I have fallen in lust with many beautiful fast race horses.

In terms of horse racing, I probably won’t be covering the seven virtues: Kindness, Patience, Humility, etc. I do have several superstitious betting angles yet to come.



What is, who is Drosselmeyer? Discovered Drosselmeyer is a character in the Nutcracker. On Wikipedia it says “Herr Drosselmeyer has brought to the party three life-size dolls, which each take a turn to dance.” Think this sums up the Triple Crown this year: Super Saver, First Dude, and finally Drosselmeyer, each taking their turn to dance. It would only have

Photo of Stanislava Belinskaya as Clara (left), an unknown performer (center), & Vassily Stulkolin as Fritz (right) in the Imperial Ballet's original production of the Petipa/Ivanov/Tchaikovsky ballet "The Nutcracker". Circa December, 1892. Unknown photographer of the Imperial Mariinsky Theatre. St. Petersburg, Russian Empire.

Having little success at handicapping the Derby Under Card and faced with an eighty minute wait for the big one, I turned to the 10th at Belmont desperately seeking some value. A MSW on the inner turf going 6 panels, my favorite handicapper had landed on Solar Panel at 16/1 and I tended to agree with him. Trainer Thomas Bush was giving Mike Luzzi a leg up in this wide open affair. This was added value because I know from experience that the Luzzi is capable of bringing home a winner in a NYRA nightcap. The race unfolded like this: Solar Panel led from the gate and battled Linda Rice trainee Hear the Footsteps throughout. In the shadow of the wire hard charging Mighty Tuff with Victor Santiago urging nailed Solar Panel (that’s him with his tongue hanging out) on the line.

Mighty Tuff nails Solar Panel (on the inside) Belmont 10th 5/1/10 Photo: NYRA

Well we had a run for our money from Solar Panel. Some of my greatest pleasures at the race track come from watching a losing horse (at high odds) run a close race. Solar Panel and Mike Luzzi were giving it their all and I didn’t mind losing a few bucks on the win. The healthy show price came back $9.80 which more than made up for the wager in the first place.

The National Weather Service is predicting 1 to 2 inches of rain for Louisville tomorrow. Those 80 hooves and shoes hitting the wet ground will be kicking up the mud. The phrase “here’s mud in your eye” is a humorous toast, usually among friends. Some believe the phrase came from horse racing, where a horse in the lead kicks dirt or mud into the eyes or face of the horse following behind. All theories connote good spirit and humor. Perhaps it signifies a desire for two friends to finish well—the toaster in first, and the toasted a close second.

Drawing by Ana Mirela Tache

Check out our book for more phrases and idioms that come from the world of horse racing.

American Lion – Illinois Derby winner took the lead and held the lead from a suspect field 4 weeks ago at Hawthorne Park. He finished in 1:51 1/5 but his last 1/8 was in a respectable 13 flat. Am Lion had a little extra burst in the tank when Yawanna Twist (who finished 11 in front of the next- Backtalk) came up to challenge. That race was the runner’s first effort on dirt and with middling works at CD I can see an over looked talent at a healthy mutual price.

Lookin At Lucky – This troubled troubadour is 6 for 8 lifetime with a victory in the 1 1/16 Rebel at OP 7 weeks ago. In that race he clicked heels halfway thru but was able to repel the likes of Nobles Promise and Dublin. Baffert trainee has been professionally working the past two weeks at CD. I see him picking up the pieces late ala Pioneer of the Nile in ‘09. His trouble at the rail in the SA Derby Post may be a problem for the inside post runner.

Dublin – Durable Afleet Alex colt makes his 9th career start – all on dirt. Came in third in the Arkansas Derby but ran a very consistent final 1/8 of 12 4/5 seconds. His chances go up with the sunshine, I don’t think he’ll respond to a “cuppy” wet surface. I look for him to hold a stalking position and finish up close but not ahead of American Lion or Lookin at Lucky.

Sidney’s Candy – Outside draw may set him up for the blistering early fractions that he will need to get the lead, Joe Talamo will have his hands full keeping it over 46 and change. I like the final 1/8 time of 12 3/5 for the SA Derby while maintaining a 4 length lead. His prior two races were not as impressive as the SA Derby and the fields were not of this caliber. He is a special horse if he can win from the outside, I see him fading in the stretch.

Super Saver – Borel will get the leg up from Pletcher for the Winstar LLC. He ran a very respectable 12 4/5 the last 1/8 in the Arkansas Derby. He was closing in on Line Of Divid on the wire and lost by less than a neck. Front running type fires from the 4 hole which should suit Colonel Calvin. If Super Saver has kept/made the lead when turning for home I think that American Lion or Lookin At Lucky would be the only ones to catch him.

LATE SUPER ADD – Make Music For Me California turf and synthetic specialist is coming off a lackluster final 13 2/5 in the Bluegrass. He lost to Lucky and Nobles Promise by 1 1/4 lengths in the Cal Fut at Hollywood Park during the week before Christmas. Underrated Joel Rosario is up in the saddle. It wouldn’t shock me to see him take dirt and make some cha ching type of music filling out the super.

According to this article the first reported use of a camera to document the end of a race was in 1888 at a track in Plainfield, New Jersey.

The term refers to the end of a race that is so close that the winner is only discernable only from a photograph taken as the horses cross the finish line. A common variation is “It’s a photo finish!” or simply “He wins in a photo!”

Grassy Wins the 9th in a 6 horse photo at Saratoga Race Course 8/22/09 photo courtesy of NYRA

An interesting photo of a triple dead heat is here.

Another, more technical, article on the different aspects of the photo finish cameras is here.

Who knew that way back in 1888 a camera on the finish line at a racetrack in New Jersey would usher in the age of instant replay. Now during challenges in the NFL we are treated to super slow motion replays at every conceivable angle. Referees duck under video hoods like the Wizard of Oz behind his curtain. While the time clock on televised basketball games is divided into tenths of a second. It never ceases to amaze me when announcers confidently assure us that there is “no need to rush here, there is still plenty of time to get the shot off” when there are 2.7 seconds left on the clock.

In horse racing the imperfect science of keeping time during morning workouts is still associated with a hand held stopwatch. Race times are now measured by hundredths of a seconds but the time honored method of 1/5 of a second per trailing horse length is still the rule for handicapping. Many of us prescribe to our own methods of finding a Derby winner, but generally, these includes the back of the envelope computations using the finishing times for the last 1/8 mile in recent few prep races. After the injury to Eskendereya the 2010 edition of the Kentucky Derby looks like an evenly matched field, perhaps this the year for a photo finish. For those of you who are interested, a very smart Kentucky Derby system is here.

But I digress, the term photo finish originated at the track yet is used to describe everything from elections to dancing contests in Florida.

I am always surprised when I see the generally unrecognized influence horse racing has on our language and culture. I hope that both horse racing fans and those interested in the English language will also find all of this enjoyable.

In horse racing to tout means to give out tips on a horse, usually for money or for the expectation of a share of any winnings. The word tout can also be used as a noun, meaning someone who gives out the tip on a race with an expected compensation. The word is Scottish in origin and originally meant to peep, to spy. It came to be used in horse racing when touts would secretly watch horses working out and sell or profit somehow from the ill-gotten information. So touts have had a bad rap from the very beginning of horse racing. If you follow this sport, these next few weeks before the Kentucky Derby are loudest and most lucrative for touts.

Oaklawn Park, Mar 01, 1960 . Photo: Francis Miller./Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images